The following table lists records of extreme temperature by continent and by territory (via links in the table). Some of the data are known territorial temperature extremes, but the majority are merely the highest and lowest temperatures found by research. In either case, these records will always be subject to revision.
Unfortunately there are many instances in which over-exposure of thermometers or transcription errors have resulted in incorrect data being treated as authentic. There are many examples of this, and there may be some of these in these tables, but an attempt has been made to remove the more obvious of them. Where appropriate, these are reported as notes to the tables.
Where available, the source of the data has been provided as a reference. For data servers, only the internet address of the main station page is given: researchers interested in obtaining the specific information must navigate from the given page to the place and date of interest.
The dates associated with temperature records are given as accurately as possible. Dating of records may differ from the actual dates of recording due to the many different sources of information used, the time of day or night that records were reached, time zone differences and the various processes associated with reporting the data. The dates given here are those obtained from the given source.
Where the precision of a temperature is known only to the nearest degree, the data is reported in these tables as such, so that a published temperature of 45°C is reported as “45°C”, not “45.0°C”.
Continental and territory extreme temperature records are occasionally obtained in regions with no permanent population (or locations inhabited solely for research purposes). Some locations (such as Dallol in Ethiopia) no longer have permanent populations but were inhabited when its record maximum temperature was obtained. Uninhabited locations may have climates that are unrepresentative of where people actually live (e.g. the top of Kilimanjaro in Africa). For this reason, extreme temperatures recorded in regions with a permanent population are preferred.
Where a continental temperature extreme record occurs in an area with no permanent population, the records for both uninhabited and inhabited locations are shown. In both the continental and territory tables, where no distinction is made it can be assumed the location where the temperature was recorded has a permanent population at the time of the record. In the territory tables, more extreme temperature records obtained in uninhabited locations (particularly those at high altitude for minimum temperatures) are given as notes.
The elevation in metres above sea level of locations reporting record minimum temperatures is given in the tables for reference.
Where extreme temperatures were recorded more than 50 years ago, the record for the last 50 years is also given. Direct comparisons between the two records should be made with caution as the meteorological stations reporting more than 50 years ago will not necessarily be the same as those reporting today.
NOTE: Information displayed here is still being researched. These are User Pages - if you wish to contribute to them, contact me through Talk.
^†ʘ Record observed in an area with a permanent resident population. Unless otherwise stated, this will be the case.
^†O Continent or location has no permanent resident population.
^†50 Record in the last 50 years; only given if the all-time record occurred more than 50 years ago.
The following table lists records of extreme temperature by continent and by territory (via links in the table). Some of the data are known territorial temperature extremes, but the majority are merely the highest and lowest temperatures found by research. In either case, these records will always be subject to revision.
Unfortunately there are many instances in which over-exposure of thermometers or transcription errors have resulted in incorrect data being treated as authentic. There are many examples of this, and there may be some of these in these tables, but an attempt has been made to remove the more obvious of them. Where appropriate, these are reported as notes to the tables.
Where available, the source of the data has been provided as a reference. For data servers, only the internet address of the main station page is given: researchers interested in obtaining the specific information must navigate from the given page to the place and date of interest.
The dates associated with temperature records are given as accurately as possible. Dating of records may differ from the actual dates of recording due to the many different sources of information used, the time of day or night that records were reached, time zone differences and the various processes associated with reporting the data. The dates given here are those obtained from the given source.
Where the precision of a temperature is known only to the nearest degree, the data is reported in these tables as such, so that a published temperature of 45°C is reported as “45°C”, not “45.0°C”.
Continental and territory extreme temperature records are occasionally obtained in regions with no permanent population (or locations inhabited solely for research purposes). Some locations (such as Dallol in Ethiopia) no longer have permanent populations but were inhabited when its record maximum temperature was obtained. Uninhabited locations may have climates that are unrepresentative of where people actually live (e.g. the top of Kilimanjaro in Africa). For this reason, extreme temperatures recorded in regions with a permanent population are preferred.
Where a continental temperature extreme record occurs in an area with no permanent population, the records for both uninhabited and inhabited locations are shown. In both the continental and territory tables, where no distinction is made it can be assumed the location where the temperature was recorded has a permanent population at the time of the record. In the territory tables, more extreme temperature records obtained in uninhabited locations (particularly those at high altitude for minimum temperatures) are given as notes.
The elevation in metres above sea level of locations reporting record minimum temperatures is given in the tables for reference.
Where extreme temperatures were recorded more than 50 years ago, the record for the last 50 years is also given. Direct comparisons between the two records should be made with caution as the meteorological stations reporting more than 50 years ago will not necessarily be the same as those reporting today.
NOTE: Information displayed here is still being researched. These are User Pages - if you wish to contribute to them, contact me through Talk.
^†ʘ Record observed in an area with a permanent resident population. Unless otherwise stated, this will be the case.
^†O Continent or location has no permanent resident population.
^†50 Record in the last 50 years; only given if the all-time record occurred more than 50 years ago.